SPRINGFIELD — — School buses throughout Illinois could be equipped with cameras to catch motorists who illegally pass by when the stop signs are extended under legislation the Senate approved Wednesday.

The bus camera bill ignited a debate in which opponents brought up controversial red-light ticket cameras in Chicago and the federal probe of bribery allegations surrounding the city's contract with Redflex Traffic Systems. One foe derided the bus camera idea as the "next generation of red-light cameras."

Longtime lobbyist Al Ronan, who represents a separate red-light camera company known as Redspeed, is pushing the latest legislation. Ronan, who was instrumental in creating the state's red-light camera laws, said Redspeed brought the bus camera idea to him.

The lobbyist indicated that he first checked with the two school districts he represents, in Chicago Heights and Park Forest, and said they "wholeheartedly" supported the idea because it is good public policy. Ronan also said he saw no conflict of interest in filing on behalf of the school districts and not Redspeed when the bill was before a committee. He said it is well known that he lobbies for Redspeed.

Under the proposal, local municipalities or counties would have to sign off before a school district could use the cameras because penalties for going around a stopped bus would need to be reviewed by law enforcement rather than school officials. Sponsoring Sen. Tony Munoz, D-Chicago, said school districts would receive the bulk of the money from fines and the rest would be used to underwrite costs of the program. A first offense would cost $150 and a second offense $500, Munoz said.

But the bill drew a skeptical eye from Sen. Dan Duffy, who challenged the need for the bill and feared that the cameras could lead to more controversies. As of mid-April, Redflex said it had been awarded 25 school bus contracts and 18 trial programs in eight states: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Maine, Alabama and Washington.

Redflex is expanding into automated school bus cameras amid the federal probe of its Chicago red-light program that has led to questions from officials across the country. Federal authorities issued a subpoena for financial records of a former city official at the center of the escalating international scandal after the Tribune raised questions in October about the city's contract with Redflex.

Duffy contended that the lobbyists for camera companies and lawmakers who support the measure are supporting one more way to squeeze "cold hard cash" from the taxpayers of Illinois. "This is the next generation of red-light cameras," said Duffy, R-Lake Barrington.

Munoz fired back, reminding colleagues that Duffy once was recorded driving through a red light. The Senate's presiding officer called on both senators to refrain from taking personal shots.

The Senate voted 36-12, to approve the measure, which now goes to the House.

Also Wednesday, the Senate passed legislation to:

•Allow judges to increase prison sentences for those convicted of using social media to coordinate what one lawmaker described as mob action along the Magnificent Mile on North Michigan Avenue.

•Abolish local election panels that decide whether candidates get on the ballot for municipal, school and township offices. A Tribune investigation revealed last month that the panels — around for more than a century — are often used by incumbents to sideline challengers, leading to fewer choices for suburban voters. The proposal moves such power to a county panel of appointees, which supporters argue will involve fewer conflicts of interest. The legislation now moves to the House.

•Require school districts to back student athletes with up to $7.5 million or 15 years of catastrophic insurance coverage in case of injuries. The bill, sponsored by former NFL linebacker and current Democratic Sen. Napoleon Harris, was inspired by the late Rasul "Rocky" Clark, who suffered a serious injury in a 2000 high school football game that paralyzed him from the neck down. He died in 2011, a year after his multimillion-dollar plan ran out of money.

•Eliminate what opponents said was a potential conflict-of-interest provision that currently bars a private vendor that acts as the central gatekeeper of data for all video gambling from holding video gambling licenses along with competitors.